Mobocracy: How the Media's Obsession with Polling Twists the News, Alters Elections, and Undermines Democracy - Hardcover
The media is lying to you...
...and it's using "public opinion" to keep you misinformed. Welcome to the world of Mobocracy—a place where opinion polls, wielded by a cynical, ideologically-driven press, distort the news and change opinion. It's a place where the fleeting whims of a largely ignorant populace are used to supplant thoughtful, reasonable debate, and where, all too often, pollsters and the art they practice are shrouded behind a cloudy curtain of clever wording, data manipulation, and hidden agendas.
This is Mobocracy.
Never before in the history of our nation have public opinion polls played such a central role in the way policy is conceived, molded, and enacted. And at no time has there been a more dangerous and misleading abuse of public opinion than now. In Mobocracy, Matthew Robinson uncovers how the media's obsession with polling drives public policy, subverts elections, and decides what we see on the evening news. He reveals how our country's democratic process has been corrupted by the mob rule of an ill-informed electorate whose opinions are trumpeted at the expense of thoughtful reporting.
Through meticulous research and insightful interviews, this book exposes how the questionable science of polls can be manipulated, how poll-driven news leads to shallow coverage, and how many of our elected officials have come to serve poll results more than they serve their constituents. You will discover the underhanded ways that polls—not the Constitution or the law—drove the Clinton impeachment process, the 2000 presidential election, the confirmation hearings of government officials, and other critical events. You will find how coverage of many of the most divisive issues, such as abortion, gun control, and health care, is manipulated by polling that too often seeks to further an agenda, not measure opinion. And you will learn how to see through these ruses in the future.
Timely, provocative, and thoughtful, Mobocracy is a wake-up call to those concerned about the health of our republic and our freedom under the Constitution.
"If you've thought polls tell lies and that most politicians are cowards, here's the proof."
—David Limbaugh, author of Absolute Power
"Finally, someone has said what needed to be said—persuasively and passionately—about our cultural obsession with polls. Matt Robinson's insight and observations are worthy of debate and reflection."
—Joseph Farah, editor, WorldNetDaily.com
"Matt Robinson has performed an invaluable service for the American public; he has meticulously documented how the once-benign concept of gauging public opinion has been perverted into a weapon wielded by journalists with a political agenda. He's stripped away the veneer of respectability that the nation's media giants have tried to build around their misdeeds."
—David Limbaugh, author of Absolute Power
"Polling today is embedded in the culture of journalism. But as Matt Robinson so compellingly points out, at the very least the media must apply the same degree of journalistic skepticism to their own polling efforts as they do to the institutions and leaders they covet."
—John Merline, USA Today
...and it's using "public opinion" to keep you misinformed. Welcome to the world of Mobocracy—a place where opinion polls, wielded by a cynical, ideologically-driven press, distort the news and change opinion. It's a place where the fleeting whims of a largely ignorant populace are used to supplant thoughtful, reasonable debate, and where, all too often, pollsters and the art they practice are shrouded behind a cloudy curtain of clever wording, data manipulation, and hidden agendas.
This is Mobocracy.
Never before in the history of our nation have public opinion polls played such a central role in the way policy is conceived, molded, and enacted. And at no time has there been a more dangerous and misleading abuse of public opinion than now. In Mobocracy, Matthew Robinson uncovers how the media's obsession with polling drives public policy, subverts elections, and decides what we see on the evening news. He reveals how our country's democratic process has been corrupted by the mob rule of an ill-informed electorate whose opinions are trumpeted at the expense of thoughtful reporting.
Through meticulous research and insightful interviews, this book exposes how the questionable science of polls can be manipulated, how poll-driven news leads to shallow coverage, and how many of our elected officials have come to serve poll results more than they serve their constituents. You will discover the underhanded ways that polls—not the Constitution or the law—drove the Clinton impeachment process, the 2000 presidential election, the confirmation hearings of government officials, and other critical events. You will find how coverage of many of the most divisive issues, such as abortion, gun control, and health care, is manipulated by polling that too often seeks to further an agenda, not measure opinion. And you will learn how to see through these ruses in the future.
Timely, provocative, and thoughtful, Mobocracy is a wake-up call to those concerned about the health of our republic and our freedom under the Constitution.
"If you've thought polls tell lies and that most politicians are cowards, here's the proof."
—David Limbaugh, author of Absolute Power
"Finally, someone has said what needed to be said—persuasively and passionately—about our cultural obsession with polls. Matt Robinson's insight and observations are worthy of debate and reflection."
—Joseph Farah, editor, WorldNetDaily.com
"Matt Robinson has performed an invaluable service for the American public; he has meticulously documented how the once-benign concept of gauging public opinion has been perverted into a weapon wielded by journalists with a political agenda. He's stripped away the veneer of respectability that the nation's media giants have tried to build around their misdeeds."
—David Limbaugh, author of Absolute Power
"Polling today is embedded in the culture of journalism. But as Matt Robinson so compellingly points out, at the very least the media must apply the same degree of journalistic skepticism to their own polling efforts as they do to the institutions and leaders they covet."
—John Merline, USA Today
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
From the Back Cover:
“My book pick of the week...”
–Amity Shlaes, The Financial Times.
“Mobocracy provides the long-awaited objective ammunition [on polling] to confirm your opinion about rampant liberal bias in the elite media. It’s powerful. Get it.”
–David Limbaugh
“Amazingly, Robinson has written that rare social science tract: A book that it is readable and engaging; directed at an audience other than political science professors (at one juncture in the book Robinson actually quotes The Simpsons to make a point). Which is encouraging, because this book deserves as wide an audience as possible.”
–Mark Hemingway, InsightMag.Com
“Mass media polling is justifiably skewered root and branch in this spirited work by Matthew Robinson that begins with the abuses of polling and ends with a stout defense of the American Constitution.... It is an education in true self government.”
–Richard H. Reeb, Jr., Claremont Review of Books
“Mobocracy is a serious, meticulously researched account of the causal relationship between polls and the decline of what used to be known as republican virtue. Author Matthew Robinson comes from the new breed of conservative young journalists who mix scholarship with tenacious reporting.”
–Robert Novak
“Matt Robinson has performed an invaluable for the American public; he has meticulously documented how the once-benign concept of gauging public opinion has been perverted into a weapon wielded by journalists with a political agenda. He’s stripped away the veneer of respectability that the nation’s media giants have tried to build around their misdeeds.”
–Mark Levin, president of the Landmark Legal Foundation
“Mobocracy is also different from all other books on the media in its focus on methodology and in being ridiculously well informed on the habits and pronouncements of those at the helm of the polling industry. Robinson gives this material extra oomph by peppering his text with the admissions, explanations and writings of professional pollsters in academia, journalism and politics.”
–Josh London, AmericanProwler.org
“Robinson provides dozens of examples of wrongheaded media polling, on everything from the impeachment of Bill Clinton to last year's tax debate. He also shows how the polling industry exploits public ignorance, which is rampant. Mobocracy offers a series of sober suggestions, all make sense. The best idea of all, however, is simply to read this important book.”
–John J. Miller, National Review Online
“Finally, someone has said what needed to be said–persuasively and passionately–about our cultural obsession with polls. Matt Robinson’s insight and observations are worthy of debate and reflection.”
–JOSEPH FARAH, editor, WorldNetDaily.com
“Matt Robinson has performed an invaluable service for the American public; he has meticulously documented how the once-benign concept of gauging public opinion has been perverted into a weapon wielded by journalists with a political agenda. He’s stripped away the veneer of respectability that the nation’s media giants have tried to build around their misdeeds.”
–MARK LEVIN, president of the Landmark Legal Foundation
“If you’ve thought polls tell lies and that most politicians are cowards, here’s the proof. Matt Robinson makes a relentless case that manipulated polls–and far too many are just that–are undermining the rule of law, the Constitution, and our Republic.”
–DAVID LIMBAUGH, author of Absolute Power
“Matt Robinson’s Mobocracy elucidates the chicaneries of pollsters, the cravenness of the media, and the confusion of the American public. Robinson shows how public opinion polls are derailing deliberation and dumbing down the political process. His book is a great antidote for anyone who still trusts the evening news.”
–JAMES BOVARD, author of the bestselling Lost Rights and Freedom in Chains
“Polling today is embedded in the culture of journalism. But as Matt Robinson so compellingly points out, at the very least the media must apply the same degree of journalistic skepticism to their own polling efforts as they do to the institutions and leaders they cover.”
–JOHN MERLINE, USA Today
About the Author:
–Amity Shlaes, The Financial Times.
“Mobocracy provides the long-awaited objective ammunition [on polling] to confirm your opinion about rampant liberal bias in the elite media. It’s powerful. Get it.”
–David Limbaugh
“Amazingly, Robinson has written that rare social science tract: A book that it is readable and engaging; directed at an audience other than political science professors (at one juncture in the book Robinson actually quotes The Simpsons to make a point). Which is encouraging, because this book deserves as wide an audience as possible.”
–Mark Hemingway, InsightMag.Com
“Mass media polling is justifiably skewered root and branch in this spirited work by Matthew Robinson that begins with the abuses of polling and ends with a stout defense of the American Constitution.... It is an education in true self government.”
–Richard H. Reeb, Jr., Claremont Review of Books
“Mobocracy is a serious, meticulously researched account of the causal relationship between polls and the decline of what used to be known as republican virtue. Author Matthew Robinson comes from the new breed of conservative young journalists who mix scholarship with tenacious reporting.”
–Robert Novak
“Matt Robinson has performed an invaluable for the American public; he has meticulously documented how the once-benign concept of gauging public opinion has been perverted into a weapon wielded by journalists with a political agenda. He’s stripped away the veneer of respectability that the nation’s media giants have tried to build around their misdeeds.”
–Mark Levin, president of the Landmark Legal Foundation
“Mobocracy is also different from all other books on the media in its focus on methodology and in being ridiculously well informed on the habits and pronouncements of those at the helm of the polling industry. Robinson gives this material extra oomph by peppering his text with the admissions, explanations and writings of professional pollsters in academia, journalism and politics.”
–Josh London, AmericanProwler.org
“Robinson provides dozens of examples of wrongheaded media polling, on everything from the impeachment of Bill Clinton to last year's tax debate. He also shows how the polling industry exploits public ignorance, which is rampant. Mobocracy offers a series of sober suggestions, all make sense. The best idea of all, however, is simply to read this important book.”
–John J. Miller, National Review Online
“Finally, someone has said what needed to be said–persuasively and passionately–about our cultural obsession with polls. Matt Robinson’s insight and observations are worthy of debate and reflection.”
–JOSEPH FARAH, editor, WorldNetDaily.com
“Matt Robinson has performed an invaluable service for the American public; he has meticulously documented how the once-benign concept of gauging public opinion has been perverted into a weapon wielded by journalists with a political agenda. He’s stripped away the veneer of respectability that the nation’s media giants have tried to build around their misdeeds.”
–MARK LEVIN, president of the Landmark Legal Foundation
“If you’ve thought polls tell lies and that most politicians are cowards, here’s the proof. Matt Robinson makes a relentless case that manipulated polls–and far too many are just that–are undermining the rule of law, the Constitution, and our Republic.”
–DAVID LIMBAUGH, author of Absolute Power
“Matt Robinson’s Mobocracy elucidates the chicaneries of pollsters, the cravenness of the media, and the confusion of the American public. Robinson shows how public opinion polls are derailing deliberation and dumbing down the political process. His book is a great antidote for anyone who still trusts the evening news.”
–JAMES BOVARD, author of the bestselling Lost Rights and Freedom in Chains
“Polling today is embedded in the culture of journalism. But as Matt Robinson so compellingly points out, at the very least the media must apply the same degree of journalistic skepticism to their own polling efforts as they do to the institutions and leaders they cover.”
–JOHN MERLINE, USA Today
Matthew Robinson, the managing editor at Human Events, is a frequent television and radio commentator who has written for the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Baltimore Sun, National Review, City Journal, Human Events, Consumers' Research, American Spectator Online, and IntellectualCapital.com. In addition, he was a writer and editor with Investor's Business Daily for four years. His stories have been featured on Fox News, The Rush Limbaugh Show and CBN. Mr. Robinson lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherPrima Lifestyles
- Publication date2002
- ISBN 10 0761535829
- ISBN 13 9780761535829
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages272
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